FORT MYERS, Fla. - With one regrettable exception last year, Ryan Sweeney does not generally go out of his way to attract attention.

If he's looking for an eye-catcher, though, there is that number.

Tony Congliaro wore it. So did Mike Lowell, and most recently, so did Bobby Valentine.

Like most of Sweeney's fairly brief stay with the Red Sox, No. 25 is a mixed blessing.

"I didn't ask for it,'' said Sweeney, no doubt aware that much of Red Sox Nation might find a skull and crossbones more suitable than any reminder of the previous manager.

"I had 12 last year, but they gave that to Mike Napoli. I don't even know if 25 will be my number this season.''

First, he has to have a season. Sweeney was not tendered a contract by the Red Sox in November, and became a free agent before signing a minor league deal with Boston on Jan. 26.

On a team with only three established outfielders (Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes, with Daniel Nava hoping to join them), and where 36-year-old first baseman Lyle Overbay might get a look in left, Sweeney would seem like a tonic.

Yet Sweeney, who came from Oakland in the Josh Reddick-for-Andrew Bailey deal a year ago, is an almost forgotten presence. He prefers to work his way into form gradually, but does not know if he can afford that this spring.

"I try not to put too much pressure on myself. People know what I can do, so I try to get my timing down by the end of spring training,'' said Sweeney, 28.

As a non-roster invitee, does he still have that luxury?

"Hopefully,'' he said, smiling. "Maybe things will come together quicker this year.''

Sweeney's 2012 season ended on July 30. In a totally out-of-character moment for one of the team's most even-tempered players, Sweeney punched a door in frustration, breaking a knuckle on his left hand - just as the Red Sox were trying to trade him to the Cincinnati Reds.

Boston general manager Ben Cherington did not let that irksome episode end their relationship.

"I talked to Ben when I was non-tendered a contract (on Nov. 30). He wanted to keep the lines of communication open, and I understood,'' Sweeney said.

He said it came down to Boston and three other teams. Ryan Kalish's recent shoulder surgery left Boston without outfield depth, and now he's back on a non-guaranteed deal that will pay him $1.25 million if he makes the Opening Day roster.

Not only can Sweeney play all three outfield spots, he is well above average at all of them. In 535 games, he is a .280 lifetime hitter, and he was hitting above .300 last year before suffering a concussion and winding up at .260.

What remains most baffling is his lack of power. Despite a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, Sweeney has only 14 home runs in 1,900 career plate appearances, and last year, he hit none.

He's healthy now, and ready to compete for a spot.

"By the end of last season, I could throw but I couldn't hit,'' he said.

"I did some therapy, and by the end of December, I was hitting. Everything is fine, and this spring, I'm doing what I've always done.''

Is there room on the team for a guy who plays great defense, does not hit home runs but promises not to punch any more doors?

"Hopefully, there will be some opportunity here,'' said Sweeney, No. 25 in your program, at least for now.